US drone attack kills 8 in North Waziristan

Several missiles fired from American drones slammed into a compound near the Afghan border in Pakistan early Tuesday, killing eight suspected militants, Pakistan officials said.

The compound was near the town of Mir Ali in the North Waziristan tribal area, said two intelligence officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

One of the officials says an al Qaeda operative was believed to have been killed in the strike.

North Waziristan, the area where the strike occurred, is considered a stronghold for insurgent groups operating in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

On Sunday nine Pakistani Taliban fighters were killed when American missiles fired from several drones flying overhead slammed into three militant hideouts in another tribal area, South Waziristan.

Tuesday morning’s strike is the fifth of its kind launched by U. S. drones in Pakistan in 2013. So far at least 38 people have been killed in such strikes. They include some important Taliban commanders like Wali Muhammad, chief of Pakistan Taliban’s suiciders wing.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - January 8 2013, 9:18 am

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Jan. 07., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader, and detained one suspected insurgent, in Andar district, Ghazni province, today.

The leader commanded a group who organized and executed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, along with overseeing the placement of improvised explosive devices.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

A Taliban senior leader was arrested by an Afghan and coalition security force in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, today. The senior leader played a major role in narcotics trafficking to fund Taliban operations within the district. He commanded insurgent fighters who were directly responsible for conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. During the operation, the security force also detained one suspected insurgent.

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Jan. 07., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained one insurgent, located one weapons cache and cleared four improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Jan. 6.

Ghazni province
Afghan Local Police and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Muqer district. The cache contained several mines and IED making materials.

Khowst province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained one insurgent during an engagement in Khowst district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Nangarhar province
Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED in Mohmand Darah district.

Paktika province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared three IEDs in Jani Khel district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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2 soldiers dead in Kandahar blast

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): Two Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed and two others, including a police and a civilian, injured in separate explosions in the capital of southern Kandahar province, officials said on Monday.

The first blast took place in the Tirinkot bus stand on outskirts of 9th municipality district on Sunday night, when a police vehicle was passing the area, the governor's spokesman, Jawed Faisal, told Pajhwok Afghan News. One civilian was injured in the blast.

He said the second blast occurred on Monday morning when a team of the Afghan National Army (ANA) engineering corps was trying to defuse a bomb, injuring one army soldier.

But an ANA commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two soldiers were killed and a policeman injured in the explosion. A statement from the ministry of defence said two soldiers were injured in the blast.

from Pajhwok
By Bashir Ahmad Naadem Jan 7, 2013 - 13:25

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Somalia: Ugandan Rebel Group Has Links With Somali Militants, a Report Says

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)

Kampala — A UN report alleges that there is a link between Somalia's Al Qaida inspired group of Al Shabab and the Ugandan rebel group of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and that the two group's connection is spreading through east Africa.

According to the report, ADF has established a link with Somalia's militant group of Al Shabab which is now weaker after Somali government forces backed by African union thrashed the group in many battlefields in south Somalia.

Uganda has contributed the bulk of the AU forces in Somalia and Al Shabab carried out a deadly bombing attack in Uganda in 2010, clearly in retaliation to Uganda's deployment to Somalia.

Despite the hatred of Al Shabab on the presence of African union forces in Somalia, the Somali public fully accepts their presence and rejoices their sacrifices in restoring peace in Somalia.

Ugandan police force issued an alert last Monday on possible terror attacks by ADF during the celebration of the new year but luckily nothing bad happened.

from allAfrica/Shabelle

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6 Afghan police officers missing in Farah province

According to local authorities in western Farah province of Afghanistan, at least 6 Afghan police officers are missing from a security check post in Pusht-e-Rud district.

The Afghan police officers disappeared from the check post on Sunday evening.

Deputy provincial governor Mohammad Younis Rassouli confirmed the report however he did not disclose further information regarding the incident.

In a separate incident and Afghan security service member was killed following attack by unknown gunmen in Farah province.

Provincial governor spokesman Abdul Rahman Zhwandai said the attack took place on Monday morning, killing an Afghan security service member and injuring another one.

In the meantime local officials are saying Afghan security forces have launched a search operation to find the missing Afghan police officers.

A spokesman for the Taliban group said the police officers have joined Taliban group but the report has not been confirmed by officials in Farah yet.

from KHAAMA
By Mirwais Adeel - January 7 2013, 1:29 pm

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TTP leader Wali Muhammad aka Tufan Mehsud reported killed in Drone strike

Key TTP leader killed in US drone strike

MIRANSHAH: Commander Wali Muhammad aka Tufan Mehsud, a key Pakistani Taliban figure, has reportedly been killed in a US drone strike which also killed 11 other people, sources said on Sunday.

According to reports, the militant commander was a close relative of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakimullah Mehsud and succeeded another commander Qari Hussian following his killing.

AFP adds: US drones fired a volley of missiles at militant hideouts in northwest Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least 12 Taliban fighters near the Afghan border, security officials said.

The missile attack took place in Babar Ghar village in South Waziristan, a tribal district bordering Afghanistan which is a stronghold of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

"US drones fired several missiles at two militant compounds. At least 12 militants have been killed and several others were wounded," a security official in Miranshah told AFP under condition of anonymity.

The official earlier said eight militants were killed. "There are members of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) among those who have been killed," he said, adding that a close relative of TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud was among the dead.

"Most of the militants were from Punjabi Taliban group and a close relative of Hakimullah Mehsud," the official said.

Another security official in the northwestern city of Peshawar confirmed the drone attacks and casualties.

Intelligence officials in Miranshah said that militants had died after US drones fired up to 10 missiles on three militant compounds in the Babar Ghar attack, but the security officials could not verify that account.

Residents said that militants had cordoned off the area and were looking for more dead or wounded in the debris.

from thenews.com.pk
January 06, 2013 - Updated 2015 PKT

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In Several Joint Clearance Operations, Seven Armed Taliban Killed (Jan.06.2013.)

Publish Date: Jan 06, 2013

In Several Joint Clearance Operations, Seven Armed Taliban Killed

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched eight joint clearance operations in Kabul, Uruzgan, Maidan Wardak, Ghazni, Khost and Farah provinces.

As a result of these operations, seven armed Taliban were killed and nine others including a local commander of Taliban were arrested by Afghan National Security Forces.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated three AK-47 rifles, 67 mortars, seven rockets, 100 kilos of ammonium nitrate, 2000 light rounds and some amount of explosives.

During the same 24 hour period, Afghan National Police discovered and defused seven different types of mines in Kandahar, Herat and Helmand provinces.

 

Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained two suspects accused of murder in the 10th and 11th Districts of Kabul-City yesterday.

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3 killed, 15 injured in Spin Boldak attack

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): Two militants stormed the Spin Boldak district headquarters in southern Kandahar province on Sunday, killing three tribal elders and wounding 15 others, officials said.

One of the insurgents crashed his explosives-packed vehicle into the government building around 12.00 noon, the district chief told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Mohammad Hashim Agha said the second attacker entered the office complex and blew himself up inside the building where a meeting of the local council was in progress. The roof of the meeting hall collapsed, killing a tribal elder and injuring 15 others.

But the governor’s spokesman, Javed Faisal, said three tribal elders were killed and 15 other people, including three policemen, injured.

The injured were taken to the main district hospital, where some were in critical condition, a doctor said on condition of anonymity.

No one has so far claimed responsibility, but officials often such attacks on the Taliban insurgents.

from Pajhwok
By Bashir Ahmad Naadem Jan 6, 2013 - 13:06

Related articles

• Afghan suicide attack kills four (afghanistannews.net)
• Taliban bombers attack local council in Kandahar (khaama.com)
• Afghan suicide attack 'kills four' (bbc.co.uk)

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Jan. 06., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested the senior Taliban leader in Nad ‘Ali district during a security operation in Now Zad district, Helmand province, Jan. 6.

The leader provided operational guidance to Taliban insurgents in Nad ‘Ali district and acquired and distributed homemade explosives, weapons and ammunition to suicide bombers.

The security force also detained several suspected insurgents and seized multiple firearms as a result of the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Jan. 4. The leader planned and executed small-arms fire and improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, and oversaw the acquisition and distribution of weapons, ammunition and IEDs to insurgent fighters throughout Nad ‘Ali and Nahr-e Saraj districts. During the operation, the security force also detained two suspected insurgents.

East

An Afghan and coalition force detained one suspected insurgent and seized multiple weapons during a security operation in search of a Taliban leader in Khugyani district, Nangarhar province, Jan. 6. The Taliban leader directs attacks against Afghan government officials as well as Afghan and coalition forces in the district.

In Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, Jan. 4, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a member of the Haqqani network who planned attacks against Afghan government officials. He also organized and managed the delivery of weapons and materials to Haqqani insurgents for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. During the operation, the security force detained one suspected insurgent.

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